Dispenser



-1 1959 J. J. MISKEL ET AL 2,873,886

DISPENSER Filed July 29, 1954 FIG.I

FIG.4

JOHN J. M/SKEL HUGH HORNEP EUGENE J. KALN/N IN V EN TORS ww THE /R ATTORNEVS United States Patent Chas. Pfizer & C0., Inc, Brooklyn, N. Y.,a corporation of Delaware 1 Application July 29, 1954, Serial No.446,602

2 Claims. 01. 222-91 This invention relates to a dispenser and moreparticularly to a dispenser closure which is especially suitable fordispensing pharmaceutical preparations and the like.

It is well known to employ elongated applicators or tips for dispensingmedicaments from collapsible tubes or similar types ofcontainers. In oneform of such a dispenser, the elongated tip is constructed of metal andmade integral with the collapsible tube, a friction cap generally beingemployed on the tube for sealing the same. While this construction issatisfactory for many purposes, contamination of the medicament withinthe tube can nevertheless occur if the cap drops oif duringshippingfhandling', etc. In some tubes of this type, the tip is sealedand must be punctured before administering the medicament. In thisinstance, the puncturing instrument may be a source of possiblecontamination unless extraordinary care is exercised when the seal isbroken. Moreover, the

same general type of container cannot be used for aquearations, in whichcase an elongated applicator usually accompanies the tube for manualattachment thereto after the seal has been broken by the cap. I This toohas several distinct disadvantages. The tip is, in most instances,unprotected and'offers a possible source of contamination duringhandlinjgj In; addition, the. topbftheltube as well as the contentsthereof may become contaminated when the seal is broken. It should beappreciated that in the treatment of mastitis, for example, it is notuncommon for farm hands to perform the task of applying themedicament tothe infected'animalsl Thus, a very serious risk ofsecondaryinfection'exists if 'such persons are untrained inaseptic procedures,'and the applicator used .is. easily susceptible to contamination.

Accordingly, an object accomplished by this invention isthe provision ofa novel dispenser which obviates the inherent disadvantages of prior artdispensers of a similar type. A further object is the provision of amedicament dispenser which may be maintained under aseptic and/orsterile conditions up to and including its use. A still further objectis the provision of a novel dispenser With reference to Fig. l, thedispenser closure of this invention takes the form of a cap-like bodyportion '1 having an internal recess 3 provided with threads 5 for ofsimple, inexpensive and rugged construction, which is particularlyadapted for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid preparations. Otherobjects will be more fully apparent from the following description andthe drawings wherein: Fig. l is a section through a preferred embodimentof the dispenser closure of this invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of theclosure of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a protective cover,

partly in section, adapted to inclose and incase the applicator portionof the closure of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view partly in section showing theclosure and cover of Figs.

1-3 in assembled relationship with a collapsible tube.

attaching the closure to "a container. The top of body '1 is in turnprovided with an elongated nozzle or applicator 7, the outer-peripheryof which is preferably cylindrical at its base 9 near the top of body 1and provided with a taper 11 extending outwardly toward the end thereof.The inside of body 1 carries a truncatedconical projection 13providedwith a central passage 15 connecting with a correspondingpassage 17 in nozzle 7. The purpose of this truncated conical projectionis to break the seal of a container to which the closure is to beaifixed in assembled relationship. For this purpose the end ofprojection 13 is provided with a cutting edge 19 which is preferablysituated within the terminal edge of body 1 at a distance from aboutone-fourth to one-half that of the area provided with threads 5. It willbe appreciated that the sharpness of cutting edge 19 may varyconsiderably, depending upon the thickness of the seal it is to punctureand the materials of construction. Thus, the edge need not necessarilybe particularly sharp.

The bottom of recess 3 is advantageously provided with a resilientannular gasket or washer 21 to provide a tight seal with the throat ofthe container which is later to be advanced into abutment therewith. Inorder to facilitate threaded attachment of the closure to a container,the outer periphery of 'body 1 is provided with an interrupted surfacesuch as longitudinal flutes 23 as shown in Figs.

1 and 2. Alternatively, the surface may be serrated or knurled.

A protective cover 25, shown in Fig. 3, is provided to inclose nozzle 7,hermetically sealing the same'from the atmosphere and protecting againstcontamination thereof. The inside of this cover is preferablycylindrical near its open end 27 to provide a snug fit with thecylindrical; portion 9 of nozzle 7. The outer surface of cover'25- nearits open end is, as in the case of body 1, providedwith an interruptedsurface 29 to facilitate rotation and removal of the cover fromnozzle 7during use of the This surface may be formed by flutes, Serra--dispenser. tions or any other convenient configuration which impartsimproved frictional engagement with the fingers.

A preferred form of container for which the dispenser of Figs. 1 to 3 isparticularly adapted is shown in Fig. 4.

ament therein.

contains a sealing diaphragm 39, preferably formed integral .with theneck and thin enough to 'be readily punctured when it is desired todispense. the contents of the tube. It willbe readily understood thatthe structure of Fig. 4 forms a complete unit which may be packaged andsol'd with the components positioned as-indicated, the cutting edge ofprojection 13 being in abutment with, but

not piercing the diaphragm 39 of tube 31. It will also be understoodthat the closure assembly may be applied to neck 37 of the tube eitherbefore or after the tube is filled. In either case, however, the fillingand assembling operations are preferably conducted under aseptic orsterile conditions to provide a finished unit which itself is asepticand/or sterile. Moreover, the various components may be sterilizedbefore and/or after assembly by known sterilization techniques, such astreatment with ethylene oxide gas, formaldehyde solution and the like.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 4 is quite simple and may beperformed without risking contamination of either the applicator 7 orthe contents of the tube 31'. Thus, the tube may be grasped in one handand the body 1 of the closure in the other to advance body 1 over neck37 by twisting the body with respect to the tube through the action ofthe flutes 23. This in turn advances projection 13 and its cutting edge19, causing the cutting edge to perforate seal 39 and penetrate. intocommunication with the contents of tube 31. During this period cover 25is retained on nozzle 27 to insure protection of the nozzle fromcontamination at all times. Thereafter, the cover may be removed bytwisting the serrated area 29 and withdrawing the cover to expose thenozzle or applicator 7 for administration of the medicament. Themedicament may then be dispensed from the container and through passages15 and 17 in the usual manner, care being taken not to expose the nozzleunnecessarily to contamination. Thus, a completely aseptic and/orsterile package unit is provided, minimizing the danger of contaminationwhich prevails in so many ordinary dispensers of a similar type.

In those instances Where it is desired to package aqueous preparationssuch as aqueous suspensions of antibiotics and the like, it has beenfound that the container may readily be coated with a suitable liningmaterial toprevent degradation of the suspension, with no danger ofplugging the outlet of the container which occurs, for example, withmany collapsible tubes. A wide variety of materials may be employed forthis purpose, waxes, synthetic resins, such as vinyl resins,polyethylene and chlorinated rubber being particularly suited for thispurpose.

It will also be appreciated that the closure of this invention may beconstructed of a variety of materials including both plastics andmetals. However, it is preferred to employ plastics such as polystyrene,polyethylene, methylmethacrylate, cellulose acetate, hard nat-' uralrubber and various synthetic rubbers. Die cast aluminum and/or zinc mayalso 'be employed. The cover 25 may, of course, be constructed of adifferent material from that of the nozzle 7, an especially advantageouscombination of materials being polystyrene for the nozzle and bodyportions and polyethylene for the cover. In some instances it may beuseful to employ a metal body portion and a plastic nozzle or viceversa. In any case, the cover 25 is preferably more resilient than thenozzle 7 so that a snug hermetic seal is provided between the two whenthey are in assembled relationship.

As previously pointed out, the closure dispenser of this invention isparticularly suited for dispensing aqueous suspensions, solutions orointments of antibiotics, sulfa.

drugs and other chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, while theconfiguration of the applicator of this invention renders it especiallyuseful in dispensing veterinary preparations, such as those used in thetreatment of mastitis, it should be understood that with little or nomodification it may be employed for administering medicament to humans,including vaginal, rectal, nasal, otic, and opthalrnic preparations. Itshould be apparent, however, that a number of other materials may beprotected and dispensed therewith from a variety of containers,provided, of course, that such containers are equipped with anexternally threaded neck portion or its equivalent for engagement withthe closure. For example, it is contemplated that the device may also beemployed to dispense cosmetic preparations, oil and foods, not only fromcollapsible tubes, but from cans, plastic squeeze bottles etc.

Resort may be had to such other modifications and equivalents as fallwithin the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i

1. A dispenser for maintaining and delivering a medicament underantiseptic conditions comprising a collapsible container including anexternally threaded neck sealed by a thin sealing member, a tube havinga thick wall, one end of said tube being tapered at a relatively shallowangle to provide an elongated nozzle, the other end of said tube beingtapered at a relatively steep angle to provide a truncated conicalprojection, a cap including an internally threaded skirt for engagingthe externally threaded neck of said collapsible container, said cap andtube being integrally molded with the Widest portion of said tube beingattached to said cap with said conical projection extending apredetermined distance inside said skirt and said nozzle extendingexternally from said cap, the threads of said cap being engaged withsaid externally threaded neck, the length of said threads and the skirtof said cap being sufficient to permit said threads to remain engagedwith each other while said conical projection is maintained outside ofsaid unbroken sealing member, a removable cover applied over said nozzleto prevent contamination prior to use, the length of said threads andsaid conical projection being constructed and arranged to permit saidprojection to puncture said sealing member and enter fully into saidneck when said threads are fully engaged with each other, and an annularresilient gasket being disposed about the base of said, projectionwithin said cap to seal the base of said cap to.

the outer edge of said neck of said tube to prevent leak age of saidcontents through said engaged threads when said cap is fully engagedwith said neck to puncture said sealing member and said container iscollapsed to dis charge its contents through said nozzle.

2. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cap and tube aremade of a hardened resinous material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS YorkerMay 21, 1957-

